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Gov. Mike Parson to send Missouri National Guard, highway patrol to secure Mexico border

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Gov. Mike Parson to send Missouri National Guard, highway patrol to secure Mexico border


Gov. Mike Parson plans to send as many as 200 Missouri National Guard members and 22 Missouri State High Patrol troopers to support Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star mission.

Launched in March 2021, Operation Lone Star is a Texas initiative aimed at preventing illegal immigration at the nation’s southern border. Parson, who visited the border at Eagle Pass, Texas on Feb. 4, submitted a $2.3 million supplemental budget request to fund the operation.

“The crisis at the Southern Border is fueling the fentanyl crisis here in our state,” Parson said in a statement. “Missourians are dying; families are being ripped apart; communities are being destroyed, and Missouri children are falling victim. It all stems from the Biden Administration’s reckless, irresponsible, and failing open-border policies. With our Southern Border wide open, every state is now a border state.”

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Through the recently issued Executive Order 24-03, Missouri’s National Guard troops will be dispersed on a rotating basis of about 30 days. The mission begins on March 10, with the primary objective for these troopers being the construction of physical barriers, with security patrols when needed.

All members of the Missouri Highway Patrol who are participating in the effort are doing so on a voluntary basis. These troopers will begin active support on March 1, which includes helping with traffic enforcement, criminal interdiction, crime prevention and other duties.

“Our current operation plan activates this mission for 90 days,” Parson said. “However, we will continuously work with Texas to evaluate needed support moving forward.”

In December 2023, more than 302,000 border crossings were recorded just that month by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. In fiscal year 2023, more than 2 million encounters were recorded. Since 2021, nearly 10 million people have entered the U.S. illegally, though not all at the southern border.

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There were 27,000 pounds of fentanyl seized by the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol in 2023, with 98.9% of that taken by authorities at the southern border. Some of this was confiscated at legal ports of entry, but the staggering amounts of the deadly drug entering the country is even more reason to send aid, according to Parson.

“Of course, where we have armed patrols, inspecting people and transports as well as legitimate barriers to entry, we’re going to discover and seize items that should not be coming into our country,” Parson said. “It’s actually quite an argument for the need to expand those procedures and secure our border.” 

In 2023, the Missouri State Highway Patrol seized almost 12,500 grams of fentanyl. Fentanyl overdoses have increased by nearly 135% in Missouri since 2017. In 2022, 43 children in the state died from fentanyl exposure. 

“The more illegal crossings we could stop and the fentanyl we can seize in Texas means less Missouri families torn apart and less Missouri children losing their lives,” Parson said.

More: Missouri lawmakers hope to crack down on illegal immigration but advocates raise concerns

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The Missouri Democratic Party issued a statement criticizing Parson’s executive order, with Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Matthew Patterson calling it “political theater,” and pointing out how Republicans in the U.S. Congress quickly denounced a bipartisan immigration reform package.

“Governor Parson’s decision to double down his political theater at the southern border instead of urging his Republican colleagues in Congress to support the bipartisan border agreement is not surprising but is deeply shameful,” Patterson said. “Missouri Republicans have demonstrated time after time that they will always choose to play political games over doing their jobs no matter who is put at risk.”

Missouri State House Minority Whip Ashley Aune joined Patterson in these criticisms, expressing frustration with “self-serving politicians playing political games,” and urged Parson to encourage Republican legislators to focus on governing Missouri rather than scoring campaign points.

“The bipartisan bill that was blocked by Republicans in Congress would have addressed this crisis, but Missouri Republicans would rather send Missouri resources to another state than do their jobs,” Aune said. “To these politicians, our pain is their political strategy, and America will continue to feel the consequences of their dysfunction as long as it scores them political points.”

Parson, however, expected to receive criticism for sending resources to the southern border, acknowledging them preemptively in his announcement Tuesday afternoon.

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“Critics will say we have our own battles within our own Missouri borders,” Parson said. “And while that is certainly true, we would much rather do what we can to fight this fight on the southern border than let it take root in our own backyard.”



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Kansas City, Missouri, City Council voted Thursday to approve the city’s $2.6 billion budget for 2026-27

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Kansas City, Missouri, City Council voted Thursday to approve the city’s .6 billion budget for 2026-27


KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council voted Thursday to approve a $2.6 billion budget for the city’s fiscal year of 2026-27.

The budget includes $744 million in spending for public safety, including $26.3 million for a new Department of Community Safety and $4.2 million to hire 50 new KCMO Police Department officers, along with 10 call takers and 10 dispatchers.

“Our budget respects the strong fiscal foundation the taxpayers have helped Kansas City build, maintaining a rainy-day fund of over $200 million, increasing road resurfacing, hiring more public safety and city workers, and investing in all Kansas City neighborhoods,” Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a news release from the city. “In a city that can walk and chew gum, we are proud to welcome the world while delivering strong basic services for Kansas City’s families.” 

The council voted to spend $83.8 million for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority to provide bus services, but the KCATA may have to make cuts in bus services even with a $6 million boost in funding from the city.

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In addition, the council approved spending $39.4 million for citywide street resurfacing and $1.5 million for tearing down dangerous buildings.
 
“This budget reflects a collaborative effort across the city, and provides a clear path for Kansas City to keep moving forward with discipline, accountability and a focus on service,” City Manager Mario Vasquez said in the news release. “Thank you to the council for its thoughtful deliberation and input in crafting this budget.” 

More information on the fiscal year 2026-27 budget can be found on the city’s website.





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Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for March 25, 2026

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The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 25, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 25 drawing

07-21-55-56-64, Powerball: 26, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 25 drawing

Midday: 3-2-0

Midday Wild: 7

Evening: 0-0-5

Evening Wild: 5

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 25 drawing

Midday: 2-6-3-9

Midday Wild: 4

Evening: 9-5-6-8

Evening Wild: 1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 25 drawing

Early Bird: 07

Morning: 09

Matinee: 04

Prime Time: 14

Night Owl: 07

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Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from March 25 drawing

12-14-22-26-28

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 25 drawing

35-38-41-43-62, Powerball: 08

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.

To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

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P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
  • Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
  • Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
  • Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
  • Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
  • Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
  • Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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Missouri AG orders 13 unlicensed Kansas City dispensaries to stop selling products

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Missouri AG orders 13 unlicensed Kansas City dispensaries to stop selling products


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Dozens of dispensaries have been ordered to close after Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said they are selling without licenses.

The AG’s office sent cease-and-desist letters to 33 dispensaries. Of those, 13 are in the Kansas City area, according to information provided by the state.

Each location is accused of selling cannabis or marijuana products without a state license, or selling other products deceptively marketed as marijuana, according to Hanaway.

Hanaway’s office also said testing found some products contained things such as lead, arsenic, and ethanol. They also used deceptive labeling and packaging, including designs that may target children, according to a news release.

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Here are the locations named by the AG’s office:

  • Big Chiefs Kush Waldo (Kansas City)
  • Dr. Smoke (Kansas City)
  • It’s A Dream (Kansas City)
  • KC Kush (Kansas City)
  • Main Smoke Shop KC (Kansas City)
  • Mr. Niceguy (Kansas City)
  • Prohibition Cannabis (Kansas City)
  • Center Smoke Shop (Independence)
  • Gray Area Cannabis (Independence)
  • Herb Depot (Independence)
  • Sacred Leaf (Independence)
  • Super E Cig Smoke Shop (St. Joseph)
  • Vapor Maven (Cameron)

The letters demand each of the above the businesses stop selling the products in question.

The full letter sent to the businesses is below.

Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.



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